Appropriately enough, it wasn't another loudmouth who effectively faced down the volatile Trump.
Rather, it was a thoughtful, smiling blonde woman in a red pants suit.
If Monday night's presidential debate was a boxing match, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton nearly scored a technical knockout.
Technically speaking, no, Clinton didn't quite lay out her opponent on the canvas.
But, by the bout's end, The Donald was wobbly on his feet and only saved by debate moderator/referee Lester Holt's bell.
The billionaire blabbermouth had nothing but bluster -- throwing wild roundabouts that a calm, calculating Clinton easily saw coming.
From the outset, Clinton was cool, focused, jabbing Trump, keeping him at a distance.
She actually proved an accomplished counter puncher against Trump, a self-proclaimed accomplished counter puncher himself.
When the undisciplined, erratic Trump got frustrated and predictably came in swinging, Clinton merely sidestepped, and fired back admirably.
She actually proved an accomplished counter puncher against Trump, a self-proclaimed accomplished counter puncher himself.
When the undisciplined, erratic Trump got frustrated and predictably came in swinging, Clinton merely sidestepped, and fired back admirably.
Early on, Trump lunged wildly at Clinton, trying to blame her for the job-stealing effects of NAFTA, passed during her husband's administration.
Clinton parried and countered. Talk about jobs. The real estate mogul left himself wide open.
Clinton landed some jarring body blows, excoriating Trump for stiffing countless Americans who worked for him, but were never paid.
Trump answered pathetically, implying that if he didn't pay a contractor for services, the job must have been subpar.
Clinton's counter rights would knock loose a little revealing truth from the braggadocious Donald over the course of the debate.
Under a Clinton barrage, the former secretary of state called Trump for cheering and profiting off the 2008 housing market crash. Trump coughed up: "That's called good business."
Clinton countered well to the end, showing herself a strong finisher and in doing so, diffusing Trump's cheap shot -- accusing Clinton of lacking stamina.
Clinton ducked and came up with a solid upper cut to Trump's vulnerable chin, rattling The Donald.
"As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, and a cease fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina,” Clinton responded.
Trump attempted to respond, but came back weakly. Reaching into his limited vocabulary arsenal, he resorted to using the word "bad" five times.
Clinton pummeled Trump with the story of his apparent disparaging treatment of a Latina Miss Universe pageant winner years ago.
"She has become a U.S. citizen and you can bet she's going to vote this November," Clinton said, landing a straight right on Trump's cheek at the sound of Holt's bell.
In the debate, Trump shamelessly continued to flounder on racism, downplaying its reality, harping on "law and order" instead.
On the racial divide, Clinton was thoughtful, peppering Trump with stats on black inequality and scoring points.
On the racial divide, Clinton was thoughtful, peppering Trump with stats on black inequality and scoring points.
Trump swung and missed when he claimed Clinton created ISIS.
The radical Islamic fundamentalist group formed out of al Qaeda in early 2004 in southern Iraq under President George W. Bush's watch.
The radical Islamic fundamentalist group formed out of al Qaeda in early 2004 in southern Iraq under President George W. Bush's watch.
Clinton landed a left hook solidly when she rightly said Trump claimed climate change was a hoax started by the Chinese.
Trump denied it. Fact checkers confirmed it. His campaign couldn't delete the tweet fast enough.
When Trump landed a glancing blow with mention of Clinton's deleted emails, she was unfazed and dished out credibly, harping on why Trump hasn't released his tax returns and speculating what he was hiding.
Trump unwittingly attempted to rally but indited himself as a tax evader, saying, "That makes me smart."
And Trump only left himself open to further suspicions by appearing to defend Russia as a suspect in hacking the Democratic Party's emails.
Clinton exposed Trump as a bully amateur, fair and square.
The only thing the practiced illusionist has mastered is the low blow. He didn't belong in the same ring with Clinton.
Now, it's up to the American people to make the call.
The disparity between the two White House contenders will only increase through two more debates over the next several weeks.
Providing the people aren't fooled by Trump's vacuous grandstanding, come November 8, the decision should be unanimous in Clinton's favor.
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